New fluorescence technology to pinpoint oil leaks offshore

October 18, 2012

Offshore staff

CAMBRIDGE, UK – Cambridge Consultants has unveiled the first stage of work that it claims will give a boost to offshore oil leak detection.

The firm has built an oil spill detection technology platform that is capable of detecting the natural fluorescence of oil in or on water. The new technology aims to provide a compact and robust system that can be permanently installed on offshore equipment such as subsea pipelines.

Dr. Frances Metcalfe, associate director, oil and gas, at Cambridge Consultants, said: “Our work so far shows that any reliable oil spill detection system will need to use more than one sensing method, and the best combination will depend largely on where and how it is going to be used.

“An oil spill ‘alarm’ system of sensors distributed across the seabed – or a series of oil platforms – is going to need a different design solution from a system for scanning a harbor or stretch of coastline from a distance to track oil spills that might be heading for the shore.”